The Role of the Visionary in Hiring: Influence, Not Execution
In most EOS companies, the Visionary has a powerful presence – and for good reason. They’re the heart of the organization’s big-picture thinking, culture, and future direction.
But when a critical seat needs to be filled, many Visionaries want to jump right into the process — writing job descriptions, scanning through resumes, and even interviewing early-stage candidates. It comes from a good place – they care deeply about the team. But here’s the catch:
Hiring is one area where the Visionary’s influence is critical, but direct involvement can slow things down.
Visionaries move fast, think out loud, and connect dots instinctively. That energy fuels growth—but in a hiring process, it can create friction.
Here’s how it often plays out:
- The role keeps shifting mid-search
- “Gut feeling” overrides structure
- The team gets mixed signals about what matters most
- Candidates leave impressed but confused
Even with the best intentions, Visionaries can unintentionally create chaos when they insert themselves at the wrong moment. And meanwhile, their focus is pulled away from the things only they can do.
So what’s the right level of involvement?
Here’s how Visionaries can stay plugged in – without taking over:
- Be intentional about where your voice matters most.
Culture fit. Vision alignment. Energy. These are places where the Visionary’s instincts add real value – especially in final interviews. - Resist the urge to drive the process.
Let someone else run the day-to-day: posting, sourcing, screening, scheduling. You still shape the outcome, but you’re not running the play-by-play. - Stick to EOS tools, even when it’s tempting to wing it.
GWC, Core Values, and Scorecards bring clarity to hiring conversations and they work best when everyone, including the Visionary, uses them consistently.
When Visionaries show up with focus rather than force, the whole process moves faster and lands stronger hires. When that input is intentional and well-timed, it elevates the team’s thinking and sharpens the decisions that follow.